Family members of Dr. Orji Allwell Chiawolamoke, who jumped into the Lagoon on Sunday from the Third Mainland Bridge, yesterday chased sympathisers and journalists away from their Abule-Ijesha home at Somolu area of Lagos State.
This came as the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, established a Suicide Prevention Service Centre. About noon, Orji’s elder brother arrived and rushed into the apartment.
A few minutes later, he ordered all the sympathisers, journalists and church members to leave. Orji’s elder brother, who was visibly angry, marched everybody to the gate and thereafter shut it. He warned journalists, who besieged their house to leave as the death of their brother was a complex one.
He said: “We don’t want to see family members, journalists and neighbours. We are mourning our brother; we need privacy to sort out something. We didn’t invite journalists.”
This was confirmed by an emergency response team member, who craved anonymity. He said. “The last time I called the family, one of them reigned curses on me until I informed him that I was not a journalist but an emergency officer.”
It was observed that those who came to sympathise with Orji’s mother didn’t stay long before taking their leave. Once they stepped out, the gate would be slammed, to prevent people from entering. Efforts to get the burial plans proved abortive as none of the members was ready to comment on the issue. It was learnt that family members were angry with the way the media carried their tragic story.
Comments
Post a Comment